2020: Van Eyck Year In Ghent

2020 is being hailed by the city of Ghent as the year of Van Eyck with a special exhibition at the MSK Museum that pulls together more than half of the artist’s surviving output (only 20 works remain throughout the world) in a unique exhibition that we will see in a special evening with limited participants. Join Clare Ford-Wille to look at his and other Flemish masters’ legacy in Ghent, Bruges and Brussels.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Brussels and onwards to Ghent by local train
Transfer by coach to your hotel. Afternoon free before evening welcome reception, lecture and dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Bruges
A full day to the wonderful city of Bruges, a beautifully preserved canalside, medieval gem. Most visitors only see the picture postcard views, which are wonderful, but the city contains some wonderful art treasures in its Groeninge Museum and Sint Janshospital, both of which we will visit today. We will also take in the Grote Markt, Town Hall, Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Onze Lieuv Vrou to see the tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary. Evening free.

Day 3: Ghent
This morning we take a walking tour to view the exteriors of St Niklaaskerk, the Castle of the Counts and the 12th century canalside guildhouses, as well as a visit to St Baafskathedraal to view Jan Van Eyck’s The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, perhaps the greatest masterpiece of the Northern Renaissance. Afternoon free for personal exploration or to relax before heading to the MSK Museum of Fine Arts, for an exclusive nocturne viewing with walking dinner of the Van Eyck: An optical revolution exhibition which showcases the newly restored outer panels of the Mystic Lamb as well as a selection of other Van Eyck works.

Day 4: Brussels and home
Today we head to the European capital to visit the Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts Brussels with their wealth of Flemish and Dutch Masters as well as time to explore independently and enjoy a farewell lunch (not included) before boarding the Eurostar to Ebbsfleet or St Pancras.

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

INCLUDED

• Return standard class Eurostar and local train from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Ghent via Brussels, returning from Brussels
• Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the boutique three-star Gravensteen Hotel, Ghent, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Welcome drink and one dinner with wine at a local restaurant
• Walking dinner at the MSK Museum
• One lecture, transfers, tours and entrance fees
• Clare Ford-Wille and tour manager throughout
  

NOT INCLUDED

• Single room supplement
• Holiday insurance
• Standard Premier/1st Class upgrade on Eurostar. On the Eurostar this constitutes upgraded seating and light meal with complimentary drink
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
• Porterage and gratuities.

PLEASE NOTE: As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages. Trollies are available at St Pancras and Paris, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform.

Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called thebaggageman, where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and we have arranged a 10% discount exclusive to Travel Editions clients off the thebaggageman service. Tel: 01844 264890

HOTEL

Gravensteen Hotel, Ghent

Boutique hotel housed in a 19th century building opposite the 800 year old Counts’ Castle in the heart of lovely Ghent.

Hotel Website